It takes only a few minutes in Alia Bhatt’s presence to know that she is neither a high-maintenance diva nor a flighty upcoming star or any of the usual sorts that emerge from the annals of Bollywood. This is not just because she hugs the stylist’s assistant, a girl she has just met, smells her hair, asks what shampoo she uses and vows to buy it for herself. Or because she orders a chicken sandwich with mayonnaise and fries. Or even because she talks a dime a dozen. It is because absolutely nothing about the 20-year-old actor, from her teeth to her effusive manner seems over-bleached, over-processed or over-considered. In a quick chat with Filmfare, the cherubic newcomer answers our rapid fire questions with ease. P.S: she talks so fast that 20 minutes over coffee with her and you run out of things to ask. Read on...

Q.Tell me about your first attraction.

(Laughs) Believe it or not but my first attraction happened when I was in Junior K.G.

Q.What would you wear on a date?

Depends on where I am going.

Q.Say you were going for coffee…

(Giggles) I’d never go on a coffee date. I’m joking. I’d wear jeans and a cute top with a blazer. Or a long dress!

I don’t believe I have achieved stardom yet. Of course, I’ve become a known face. But my life hasn’t changed in a drastic way. I love meeting people and listening to what they have to say. Sometimes people advice you as well, which is interesting as you’re working for the audience. It’s always nice to know what they want. I’ve also been interacting with children. Especially four and five year olds. They seem to form a chunk of my fan following.

Q.Really?

Yeah... I never knew I could get along with children. At one point, I was even scared to hold young kids. But nowadays children are way smarter than you and me, so it’s easier to talk to them.

Q.So what does stardom mean to you?

The day people come to the theatre to watch a film only for me, I will believe I have achieved stardom. Also, if I reach a point where I get to work with all my dream directors and actors, I’ll be happy.

Q.And satisfied too, right?

No. I don’t think so. I’ll never be fully satisfied. The day that happens, my downfall will start. The more I want, the harder I will work and the better I will get at it.

Q.The 100-crore club to you is…

Over-hyped. At this point, the 100-crore club comprises varied films. Barfi!, Dabangg, Agneepath, Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani and more... You don’t have to do just one kind of film to be part of it. Being part of the 100-crore club would mean being part of good films. And I want to be part of good films.What is the coolest piece of advice your father Mahesh Bhatt has given you?He tells me 500 things. He has something to say every day. So I don’t remember the ‘coolest’ piece of advice he’s given me. But I remember the coolest thing he’s told me. He once said, ‘If a person has tasted success, they have to be treated like a bomb blast victim.’ That’s true.

Q.The best compliment you’ve ever received is…

Someone once told me that I look very beautiful when I just wake up. That’s the best compliment I’ve ever received, since everyone tends to look puffy-eyed and not so nice then.

Q.Which is your favourite physical feature?

(Pauses) Definitely my nose.

Q.And the least?

Uh, my thighs. It’s always been a problem area. I have to work doubly hard to lose weight there.

Q.What’s your weirdest phobia?

I had this weird phobia of plants. Till a while ago, I didn’t like plants that were higher than my calves. I always felt they would creep up on me. But I had to face this fear upfront during the shooting of Highway, so it has almost gone now. At least Ihope so.

Q.Where do you want to see yourself three years from now?

Probably, in a position where I can buy myself a car and also finally be able to drive it. Other than that, doing as many good films as I can. I don’t want to stop working now. I just want to do it all.